A man suffered serious injuries after falling over a six-foot wall at a Stroud car dealership in 2022.
The fall caused serious injuries, and he spent five weeks in the hospital. The incident still affects him now. Michael Davies, who runs Autodeals in Stroud, admitted he failed to keep visitors safe and went to court on February 25, 2025.
Magistrates watched a video in court showing the man opening the boot. This action pushed him backwards where a fence should have been. He fell headfirst to the road below, a drop of six feet high. He suffered a neck injury that has limited his movement since then.
The court heard the event changed his life. This information was shared at the Cheltenham court in Gloucestershire. He let the council use the video to show why safety matters, helping workplaces see the importance.
Railings are now on the wall at the dealership on Stratford Road. Mr. Davies admitted his guilt in court on December 9, 2024. He was fined £3,600. He also had to pay council costs of £5329.50, plus a victim surcharge of £190, totaling £9,119.50.
David Peacock, a health and safety officer for SDC who investigated the incident, said the injury was preventable. The wall should have had a fence, and concrete posts suggested a fence was planned.
Peacock added that fences would have stopped the fall, stressing risk assessments. Workplaces must find hazards for everyone. This keeps employees and visitors safe.
Chloe Turner, who chairs SDC’s environment committee, called the incident avoidable and dreadful. She thanked health and safety officers for investigating.